List of Bills Narrows Greatly

The 2017 Session of the Mississippi Legislature is rocking along, and with last week’s deadline now past for reporting bills out of committee, the list of bills has narrowed greatly – in fact, we now have the shortest list of active bills that we have had in years.

Pictured, the Senate Insurance Committee, chaired by Videt Carmichael of Meridian, takes up a few bills just prior to the deadline. An equally short list was passed by the House Insurance Committee as well, chaired by Gary Chism of Columbus. Both committees successfully defeated bills which were of concern to MASI – and for the leadership of these chairmen we are most grateful.

Another major deadline occurs later this week: Thursday, February 9 will be the deadline for each chamber to report general bills. The process will begin all over again, with new committee deadlines and reporting deadlines in place for the second stage of consideration of bills that survive past Thursday.

Revenue bills fall under a later deadline… and we are hopeful that MASI’s Wellness Tax Credit will pass committees later this month.

As previously mentioned, the list of legislation has narrowed greatly since our last legislative report. Please scroll down for a current list of pending legislation.

MASI Helps to Preserve Workers’ Comp Second Injury Fund

MASI is joining hands with the MS Workers’ Comp Commission to safeguard Mississippi’s Workers’ Comp Second Injury Fund. Swept into the General Fund last year by legislation to consolidate agency accounts, this trust fund which pays perm/total claims resulting from second injuries is no longer under MWCC oversight. Two bills are pending that will hopefully correct this dilemma: SB2625 and HB887.

Pictured are Dan Gibson, MASI Executive Director, and Beth Aldridge, MWCC Commissioner, meeting with Senate Appropriations Chairman Buck Clarke of Hollandale, and Senate Appropriations Committee Member Josh Harkins of Flowood. Gibson and Aldridge also met with House Appropriations Chairman John Reed who expressed his support.

Currently, neither bill addresses the Second Injury Fund directly. Work is taking place, however, to make sure it is added by amendment.

At left, MASI Executive Director Dan Gibson meets with House Ways and Means Chairman Jeff Smith, champion of MASI’s Workplace Wellness Tax Credit for the past three years. Chairman Smith has offered to again introduce the House version of the bill, which will provide $1 million in tax credits to encourage employers to offer wellness programs to their employees.

Last year, Chairman Smith led the House in passing the bill almost unanimously. We are hopeful that the Senate this year will concur in passing the bill. Scroll down for more information on Mississippi’s Workplace Wellness Tax Credit!

If you’re like me, you really get tired of hearing about how fat we are. Do we really need anyone to tell us?? Sure we have some of the best cooks in the world, but it’s just awful how much we get picked on. Travel to any other place, especially a foreign country, and it’s easy to see why we are fat – talk about awesome Southern cuisine!

The cornerstone of MASI’s 2017 Legislative Agenda is the Workplace Wellness Tax Credit, to allow $1 million in tax credits for employers who provide wellness programs for their employees. This is a Win-Win proposal for workers’ comp plans and health plans both! Rep. Jeff Smith and Sen. Joey Fillingane have both graciously agreed to file the bill again for MASI. We will post it as soon as it hits the legislative website. As a revenue bill, we will be facing a later deadline than general bills – and we will be sure to keep you posted on its progress.

To read talking points on MASI’s Wellness Tax Credit bill, CLICK HERE. To read SB2940, CLICK HERE. (We are still waiting to share the House version.)